Clapham Circles“Their campaigns were driven by two irreducibly separate religious motives: one, to promote true religion and save souls; the other to make life better for people and to make the world a better place.”

--- Stephen Tompkins in The Clapham Sect

The Original Clapham CircleThroughout history, culture has primarily been enduringly changed by relatively small groups of determined leaders; men and women at the head of networks and institutions working together, focusing on strategic purposes.One of the most notable is that of a gathering assembled by William Wilberforce to address social ills, slavery being the most pressing focus. This network of cultural leaders which came to be known as the “Clapham Circle.” This circle of men and women possessed “cultural capital”, i.e. those of power and influence, utilized the institutions they led to not only end slavery on their continent, but accomplished a host of other Christian passions to which they felt called.

They experienced great success because of the influence, or “cultural capital” they wielded. As James Hunter concluded, “Long-term cultural change always occurs from the top down.” While the approach of the Clapham Circle is not unique, they are a model of how profound influence for good enables a theory or idea or goal to infuse cultural primacy. As the Barna Group concluded in one of their recent studies, “The most effective leaders will find new ways to partner with each other and serve their cities.” Like other successful, culture changing agents, this influential group of Christians started off with a goal and a plan. Because of their purposeful strategy, the world was changed forever.